A moment later, she sets a plate of three tacos smothered in a green sauce in front of me. The smell of smoked meat is impossible for my stomach to ignore. Anyway, I’d never refuse a kind gesture involving food. I thank Lynn with an appreciative nod, offer to buy her a drink, and start eating. Before we can engage in small talk, the bartender’s eyes grow wide, and her nose scrunches as if she’s talking to a baby. “Is that my favorite customer!?”
With compressed lips, I glance around for someone else and follow her line of sight. Was she talking to the scarf around Lynn’s neck? When Lynn gently lifts the fleece material, a small, round body covered with brown-and-white quills pokes out, then an itty bitty nose curiously wiggles beneath its prickly exterior before ducking back inside. It’s strange, but cute. I scoot my plate an inch away.
“The weather’s not too hot today, so I thought I’d bring Quilliam by to say hi before we head to the office. He sleeps, mostly.” Lynn directs her attention to my slack expression. “I used to help run the largest domesticated hedgehog rescue back in London. You can take an employee out of the rescue, but you can’t take the rescue out of an employee. Don’t worry. Quilliam is the world’s happiest hedgehog.”
“Right.” Diverting from my chatty neighbors, I locate my phone to send Kaydence a text, but the message fails. I search for a Wi-Fi connection. Nothing.
A voice grabs my attention. “Lynn, I was telling my new friend here, uh—”
I slide the device into my pocket. “Caroline.”
“Caroline—about the time I attempted to stay friends with an ex after a mutual breakup.” Bartender Akari hands Lynn a mimosa. “We even did the roommate thing. One day I realized I respected her cat more than her. Apparently, so did the new girlfriend she left me for.” She huffs. “I love drama, especially when it’s not mine.”
Lynn booms a laugh. “Sunny won’t shut up about you, and I’ve heard this story three times now. Clearly you two miss each other.” Then she points a toothy grin my way. “Don’t listen to sassy-ass Akari over here. Her ex works at my resort, so she secretly hopes I’ll fire her. I married mine. Mae and I have been together for so many years, I stopped counting. Another ex and I have a beautiful friendship. Then there are people I wouldn’t trust a pet rock with, let alone Quilliam. Point is, your mileage may vary—”
“Correction. That killjoy misses me,notthe other way around.”
“Whatever you say.” Lynn gives her a look.
Drifting into the background while they continue, I notice the silver-and-rose-gold jewelry dangling from Akari’s right wrist. Lynn catches me, and she points at Akari’s arm.
“Isn’t that the charm bracelet Sunny gave you?” Hearing Lynn’s contagious giggle makes me crack a smile. It’s obvious someone is lying to themselves. This is prime-time entertainment.
Akari counters despite the hint of blush in her cheeks. “I’m hoping that Caroline’s single, because I’m on the market if interested.” Akari playfully winks at me. “Just say the word and I’ll cancel my shift and tell the boss about my hot date tonight. I’ll make sure to add that we aren’t going to bed anytime soon.”
I glance at the lotus flower tattoo between her breasts, then meet her gaze. An opening to flirt. Just what I don’t need—more baggage.
All eyes are on me. This is one of my favorite parts of the job. More times than not, I’m just myself rather than creating a PI persona. No one ever seems to believe me when I tell the truth.
“What if I told you I was single and a private investigator looking for a woman staying at the couples’ resort? And right about now, I wish she was you.” For my case’s sake.
They stare at me in silence for a beat, then there’s a fit of laughter from both of them. “That’s a good one.” Lynn says, patting me on the back. “Whereisyour partner?”
Like clockwork. Iamstaying at the resort—Kaydence said it was the only option available. I guess I should play the part. The bartender's story comes to mind. “My wife and I are here celebrating. My poor little lightweight had one too many shots last night. Can’t recover like we used to.” Subject change. “So, what do you do for Goddess Lagoon?”
The conversation halts when Lynn's phone illuminates the bartop. “Sorry. Mae must be finished at the spa.”
A minute later, Lynn ends the call and invites my non-existent wife and I to dinner at the hibachi restaurant sometime. She gives me a rundown on the types of food on the island. There’s restaurants with various cuisines dedicated to them spread throughout Sapphire Isle. Most of the food on the west side, including the resort, has Asian dishes to enjoy. She rattles off a long list of Asian countries from the east and southeast, but I can’t keep up. I just ate, yet I’m already hungry again listening to her winded explanation of menu options. As friendly as she is, I want Wi-Fi, not a double date.
“Well, if you ever want to try this place and need someone to go with, my wife and I would love to have you.”
A viable excuse comes to mind. “We would love to, but the lady has a long list of allergies, so stuff like sushi is a no-go. We’re one of those annoying couples who are best friends that rarely stay separate for long.” I flash a convincing smile. “Love and all that.”
“When you meet The One, it’s easy to be that way, you know?” Lynn rises to her feet and flings an arm over my shoulders like we’ve been friends for years, careful to not disrupt the little one. “Make sure to tell her that the restaurant has the best food I've ever tasted. And they don't just serve sushi. They have all kinds of dishes. You know, it's one of those places with the flat grills where the chefs do the fiery volcano thingy with the onions.” Lynn's eyes light up in a way only a fellow foodie would understand. “That's my favorite part. Promise me you’ll at least tell her. It will be fun.”
The persistence is amusing. She reminds me of Mamma—an over-the-top extrovert, people person—”talk to trees to see-how-they're growing” type. Too trusting. Opposite of me. “I'll tell her, but no promises. I will say, though, I too love the fiery volcano.”
“How about this…” Lynn rummages through her pockets and grumbles when she comes up empty. She quickly scans the bar and reaches for a napkin and pen. “If you change your mind, give me a call.”
We wave goodbye, and I watch Lynn walk down the beach. Once she and Akari are out of sight, I crumple the paper without a glance and toss the wadded ball onto the bartop. So far, everyone seems perfectly nice, but there’s no point in making friends. I’m here for work, not play.
I exit the bar, on the hunt for an internet signal. I walk toward the resort. It’s about time I start on this, in Kaydence’s words, “straightforward” surveillance case. No more surprises.
CHAPTER 5
BASIL
Sittingon the edge of the villa bed, I bask in a pool of my own misery. It’s almost noon. Even while vacationing, I had always been an early riser. Not today. It’s like my life repertoire ran away, right along with my fiancée. After failing last night’s Mission Impossible: Temporary Wife Edition, it’ll be at least five years until another mojito touches my lips. Sips of water help wash away the stale rum that coats my throat, but not the shame. I’m never setting foot in that bar again.
